Chapter 21: The Sports Genius Everyone Wants
"That's right."
After Asagiri confirmed it, the PE teacher's expression lit up like he had just pulled an SSR character. His previously stern face loosened instantly as he rushed forward.
"Asagiri, join our track and field club! With your talent, you can definitely win the national championship… No, you could even compete at the world level!"
He never imagined he would encounter the SSR level transfer student here of all places: the boy every sports club had been preparing recruitment plans for.
Just how exaggerated was Asagiri's athletic record?
If he had only won one national championship in basketball, tennis, or badminton during middle school, then only that corresponding club would try to recruit him. After all, excelling in one sport doesn't automatically mean you excel in others.
But Asagiri wasn't just talented in one. He won all three national championships for two consecutive years.
That level of talent was something you might only see once in a century.
Shuchiin's sports clubs had been preparing since morning. Some PE teachers even begged the girls clubs to lend them beautiful senior members just to attract his attention during recruitment. After all, what high school boy wouldn't be moved?
Yet not a single person expected Asagiri to skip the entire recruitment area and come straight to the gym instead.
He had practically walked right into the PE teacher's hands.
"Track and field club?"
Asagiri smiled and shook his head.
"No interest. I don't plan on joining any club."
"Can you really not reconsider?" The teacher asked, even though he already knew the answer.
If only Asagiri were just a sports specialist, things would be simple. He would eventually join a sports club and become a shining star at the national level. And the teacher in charge would naturally gain recognition.
But reality was cruel.
Asagiri wasn't just a once in a century sports prodigy.
He was also the top scorer in both the Japan joint entrance exam and the Shuchiin Academy entrance exam.
Someone like him might casually join a hobby club for fun, but never a sports club that demanded daily training and could affect academic performance.
"I'm not reconsidering."
"…Alright then."
The PE teacher sighed, hid his disappointment behind a forced smile, and walked away slowly.
Asuna watched his defeated back and whispered, "Why do I feel like I just watched someone get rejected after gathering all their courage to confess?"
Asagiri shrugged.
"I never had much interest in sports to begin with."
"Then why did you participate in three different national championships?" Asuna asked.
"Because I was bored."
He paused, then added calmly.
"But now, I've found something more interesting than sports."
Asuna lowered her voice as they walked toward the dumbbell area.
"You mean… the game?"
"No, I mean teasing you."
"Huh?"
Asuna froze. A soft blush spread quickly across her cheeks.
"You… what are you suddenly saying…"
Asagiri sighed.
"I'm obviously being sarcastic. Why are you getting shy? You really are a pure sweetheart."
"You—!"
Asuna bit her lip, flustered, sulky, and helpless all at once.
"Here."
Asagiri ignored her reaction. He picked up a heavy black dumbbell, the number "40KG" written on the handle, crouched, and placed it in front of her.
"Try lifting it with one hand."
Asuna stared at the dumbbell, took a deep breath, adjusted her posture, and finally grabbed the handle firmly.
"Mm…"
Her face reddened again — though this time from effort. Only Asagiri could make a refined, elegant ojou sama blush three times in one minute.
The first blush was shyness.
The second was anger.
And the third was pure muscle strain.
"Haa…"
After nearly ten seconds of using all her strength with no result, Asuna finally gave up. She looked up at Asagiri, embarrassed.
"Sorry… I can't lift it…"
"What are you apologizing for?"
Asagiri picked up the dumbbell casually and returned it to the rack. Then he walked out of the gym with Asuna.
"It seems your basic class, Swordsman, doesn't give much of a passive physical boost. Even with an A plus clear rating. Beginner dungeons must just be tutorials to help Players adjust. It's hard to get powerful rewards out of them."
Asuna nodded as they stepped out of the gym.
Then she suddenly paused.
Just earlier… Asagiri had taken the dumbbell off the rack and placed it on the floor for her.
Was he worried that if she failed to lift it properly, it might slip off the rack and injure her?
Could it be…
This was the true nature of a certain someone?
A tsundere who said one thing but meant another.
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